Algebra 1 Common Core

I bought this text for my daughter who homeschools and is in 7th grade. I know it will be a little challenging but she would like to take Algebra as an 8th grader. I have looked at many companies and haven't found a single one that does such a great job of setting the lessons up and putting everything into units. At the beginning of a lesson, there are 3-5 examples of the new information. Then there are 7-15 guided practice problems (we do these together). Then what I think is genius, the remaining 20-40 problems apply what concept was taught to many aspects of everyday life (charts, graphs, word problems, etc.). This helps real-world application take place which for me, as a kid, never happened with texts like Saxon. After the main lesson, there are 5-15 review problems of previous concepts so the skills aren't lost. Then if desired, the student can do the standardized problems if they are preparing for the state tests. Mixed throughout the units are mid-ch quizes and a test after each chapter. They are also mini lessons you can do that explain how to use a graphing calculator and other concepts. I am so glad I found such a great company and text for my daughter. We also looked at the Course 2 and 3 texts by Holt McDougal and they have the same setup. The only thing was then my daughter wouldn't be able to take Algebra in 8th grade. The Course 2 is for 7th graders and is a good text if your child is average (not lower or excellent). The course 3 is for 8th graders who will take Pre-Algebra as a 9th grader. The same concepts as in both the Course 3 and Pre-Algebra books with the exception of a little more trig and geometry in the end of the Pre-Algebra book. If we don't get to the end of the book this year, that won't be a big deal because rarely do regular school finish a text in 1 year. She will always cover geometry and trig later.

My son’s school uses a digital textbook that isn’t very good. I bought this book to provide a reference and more practice problems. Very happy to get it used in good quality for a reasonable price.

I bought the teachers edition to go with the text for my daughter who homeschools and is in 7th grade. I know it will be a little challenging but she would like to take Algebra as an 8th grader. I have looked at many companies and haven't found a single one that does such a great job of setting the lessons up and putting everything into units. At the beginning of a lesson, there are 3-5 examples of the new information. Then there are 7-15 guided practice problems (we do these together). Then what I think is genius, the remaining 20-40 problems apply what concept was taught to many aspects of everyday life (charts, graphs, word problems, etc.). This helps real-world application take place which for me, as a kid, never happened with texts like Saxon. After the main lesson, there are 5-15 review problems of previous concepts so the skills aren't lost. Then if desired, the student can do the standardized problems if they are preparing for the state tests. Mixed throughout the units are mid-ch quizes and a test after each chapter. They are also mini lessons you can do that explain how to use a graphing calculator and other concepts. I am so glad I found such a great company and text for my daughter. We also looked at the Course 2 and 3 texts by Holt McDougal and they have the same setup. The only thing was then my daughter wouldn't be able to take Algebra in 8th grade. The Course 2 is for 7th graders and is a good text if your child is average (not lower or excellent). The course 3 is for 8th graders who will take Pre-Algebra as a 9th grader. The same concepts as in both the Course 3 and Pre-Algebra books with the exception of a little more trig and geometry in the end of the Pre-Algebra book. If we don't get to the end of the book this year, that won't be a big deal because rarely do regular schools finish a text in 1 year. She will always cover geometry and trig later.

I'm sure this is a fine book, but it is the common core edition which is vastly different than the 2011 edition. They look almost identical, the only difference being the little sticker in the lower right hand corner. Do NOT buy this if you don't want the common core edition.

This has 7th and 8th grade standards all mixed up. It is a nice book, but you need to do your homework to accomplish all the standards for your grade level, the chapters are grouped logically by topic not by grade level. This makes it good for review of 7th grade material or intro of 8th. We use it for both grades at my school.